SMARTPHONE owners have been warned about Trojans that want to steal their data.
A Trojan horse virus is a type of malware that is downloaded onto a system disguised as a legitimate program.
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Now in a new post on Reddit, iPhone and Android owners are raising the alarm about this malware infiltrating the devices.
The thread links to a 9to5Mac article warning about an Android trojan called GoldDigger.
After emerging last year, researchers discovered that the malware could steal biometrics and bank account information.
Now the Trojan has evolved into the GoldPickaxe Trojan and can infect both iOS and Android.
HOW DO TROJANS WORK?
Hackers usually use social engineering methods to hide malicious code inside software.
Once the software reaches your device, it can discreetly infiltrate it to steal sensitive information.
This may include personal photos, text messages, email, login information and contacts.
It then sends that information back to advertisers, data companies, or third parties, like hackers.
In some cases, malware can help hackers gain remote access to your device.
“I found a new trojan, I unlocked my phone and gave it to a malicious actor and told them my password, it gave them full access to my device,” one Reddit user shared under the thread.
“This happened to me when I used a third-party app store on Android a few years ago,” said another.
“I tried everything to remove the trojan. In the end, the only thing that worked was resetting the phone. It was a huge pie, but I learned my lesson,” they added.
“Everyone will be scammed or scammed at some point in their life. It’s impossible to know every scam,” warned another.
HOW TO STAY SAFE
There are several ways users can protect their device from Trojans and other malware.
For starters, you should never download apps outside of Apple’s or Google’s official app stores.
It’s also important to keep your phone’s software up-to-date, as updates often include security patches.
Never download a link or open an attachment from an email or text message that seems strange, suspicious, or unfamiliar.
Finally, you should install an antivirus program on your device so that it can scan for malware.